Ukraine’s Sea Drones Reportedly Disable Two Russian Shadow Fleet Tankers, Video

Two Russian tankers involved in circumventing international sanctions on oil exports were reportedly disabled in a joint naval drone operation conducted by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and the country’s Navy, according to Hromadske reports citing sources within the SBU.

On November 28 and 29, maritime drones struck two sanctioned oil tankers—Kairo and Virat—in separate attacks in the Black Sea. According to Hromadske, citing an informed source within Ukraine’s Security Service, the vessels sustained critical damage and have been rendered inoperable.

A follow-up strike on the Virat was confirmed the next morning by Turkey’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. The tanker suffered additional damage to its starboard side, although no fire broke out and the crew remained in stable condition, Turkish officials stated.

The incidents were initially reported by Reuters on November 28, citing explosions aboard two sanctioned tankers near the Turkish coast. Subsequently, Hromadske attributed the attacks to upgraded Sea Baby maritime drones operated by Ukraine’s 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence and the Navy.

Turkey’s Ministry of Transport later confirmed the second strike on Virat in an official statement, adding that emergency crews remained at a safe distance while evaluating conditions aboard the vessel. Turkish authorities also noted that 25 crew members aboard Kairo were evacuated after the initial explosion and fire.

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Explosions Hit Two Sanctioned Russian Oil Tankers in Black Sea

Nov 28, 2025 21:34

According to sources cited by Hromadske, the Sea Baby drones used in the operation were fitted with enhanced warheads and capable of long-range maritime navigation. Both Kairo and Virat were reportedly traveling empty toward the Russian port of Novorossiysk for loading at the time of the attack.

Ukrainian sources estimate the tankers could have transported oil worth up to $70 million. “The Sea Baby drones disabled vessels that were used to bypass international sanctions and help fund the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine,” a source in the SBU told Hromadske.

The tankers were identified as part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of aging or repurposed vessels used to covertly transport oil despite Western sanctions. These tankers often operate under flag-of-convenience registries, limited tracking, and ambiguous ownership.

Earlier, The New York Times reported that Russia’s shadow fleet now accounts for roughly one in six oil shipments globally, with over 940 tankers operating under opaque ownership and often falsifying location data to evade sanctions.

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